Best Sights in Lublin, Poland

You may be considering a stop in Lublin for a few hours or a few days on your westward (or eastward) journey in Poland... but why not a week? The fact is Lublin no dusty frontier city in south-eastern Poland devoid of culture and cafés - quite the opposite. The cobblestone and lantern-lined streets of the Old Town and the centuries-old architecture are the legacy of a 1,000+ year history of people coming and going, and the cultural traditions and superstitions that travelled with them. They are now the home of many highly-rated gastronomic and accommodation venues, immersed in the character of this fascinating region. The best part of it all is - most people wouldn't have a clue that any of this exists! Kraków and Warsaw are still the centre of gravity for tourism in the region, which leaves Lublin relatively untouched. That's not to say people aren't cluing on...but there's still opportunity to beat the rush!

Zamkowa Street towards **Grodzka Gate** and **Lublin Old Town**. Photo by stepmar/AdobeStock.

Lublin has also played a crucial part in the history of Poland that is often overshadowed by the bigger names that pop up on Wikipedia. The word frontier is used quite often and it's very appropriate, even today as it lies a mere 100km from the Ukrainian border. Influences from both the east and west allowed it to grow into a thriving cultural hub and a halfway point for two great powers - Poland and Lithuania - that would one day converge on Lublin to sign their empire into existence. The same empire was a haven for the European Jewish population, who were drawn to Lublin's multicultural space and made their own mark on the region. For centuries, the city was referred to as the Jerusalem of Central Europe and, elsewhere, the Jewish Oxford . This would all change in a devastating fashion, as the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland and their xenophobic foreign policies saw both the local Jewish population and culture almost completely wiped out, along with the suffering inflicted upon Poles and other minorities in the community. Nevertheless, the legacy of this dark chapter of history is kept alive at the State Museum of Majdanek , a Nazi concentration camp that operated 4km from the city centre. It's not all doom and gloom, however, you can see charming reminders of the once-thriving community all over the Old Centre, and some of the finest examples of Jewish cusine can be sampled at Mandragora and Słodka respectively.

Lublin's unique heritage has resulted in different superstitions being associated with different landmarks, for which reason the Lubelskie region is often referred to as the ‘ land of legends ’. If you're travelling with children and they're not at the same level of appreciation as their elders, pay attention to the 🐐 that appear below ! They offer a colourful tale behind some of Lublin's key sites!

Lublin Old Town

After arriving in Lublin, your first port of call should be, without any detours, a visit to the historic centre. Founded in medieval times, Lublin’s old town boasts a collage of architectural patterns, dating primarily from the late Renaissance. Other features include two 14th-century gateways, the highlight of which being the Kraków Gate - a postcard favourite. The town square houses are mostly built in renaissance style, and recent renovations have restored many of the buildings to their former glory. With a generous 70% of these structures surviving the destruction of WWII, the old town is a wonderful glimpse into old Poland, and largely free from the buskers and kebab signs that fill Poland’s more travelled hotspots. Most of the top attractions in Lublin are located within this district, if not a short walk away!

A lap around the picturesque rynek (ENG: Market Square) will reveal a number of great spots for drinking and dining. Notable mentions include Jewish cuisine at Mandragora and Słodka, a fantastic art-deco Polish restaurant called Niepospolita, and a quaint little coffee spot at Akwarela. Smack back in the middle is the Crown Tribunal Building, which is a starting point for the immensley-popular Lublin Underground Trail. Whist exploring through the narrow cobblestone laneways, you will eventually stumble across one of two imposing churches that reside within the old city limits. The first is the Dominican Basilica and Monastery at the end of ul. Złota, dated from the mid 1300s, and in possession of a fantastic painting depicting the fire of Lublin in the 18th century. A block to the south-west, the Archcathedral can be found, featuring the Trinitarian Tower that offers the best views of the old centre from above! Down towards Grodzka Gate and Lublin Castle, you can drop in at Browar Grodzki, a brewery-restaurant that offers stunning views to the east.

**Lublin Old Town** during one of its many fantastic public events that brings the old centre to life!
Photo by J. Scherer / Photo by the Presidential office - Marketing of the city of Lublin.

🐐 Numerous legends are associated with the old centre in general. The oldest of these is that of a three-headed dragon, known back in the day as a 'viper' who emerged from an oak grove in the Bystrzyca river valley and chose to live under the city. The viper was believed to have been responsible for bringing the rain, which was essential weather for ensuring a good harvest, as well as guarding the city from dead souls who roamed the land. Offerings to appease the three-headed beast included milk, honey and grain. Viper motifs can be found all over the city on doorfronts, and ul. Żmigród translates as Vipertown Street. 🐐 The other legend is attached to the fancy blue tenement house at Rynek 12, which was the home of Mayor Konopnica in the 16th century. His beautiful daughter, Basia, fell in love with a poor nobleman's son named Jan Rudnicki, a betrothal of which Mayor Konopnica did not approve. Rudnicki, not willing to accept Konopnica's decision, swept up Basia after mass on Christmas Eve and escaped into an oncoming blizzard. While most stories that play out like this have a tragic, ghostly ending, this one is quite the opposite - Basia and Jan Rudnicki lived happily ever after on the Rudnicki estate, despite not gaining forgiveness from old man Konopnica!

Colourful renaissance tenement houses that line the ***rynek*** (ENG: market square), including the blue **Konopnica Tenement house**!

Krakowska Gate

Krakowska Gate (PL: Brama Krakowska ) is a 14th-century gate and defensive tower complex that provides access to the Old Town in Lublin. Often referred to historically as the 'Upper Gate', with Grodzka Gate on the other end being the lower gate of the old centre, the westward road leading out of the city follows the historic trail towards the city of Kraków, hence the gate's namesake as well as the road and district on the outside of the old town - Krakowskie Przedmieście (ENG: Kraków District). The gate and defensive walls around the Lublin old town were first built in 1341, in an attempt to stave off raids from Tatars, Ruthenians and other local bandits. A drawbridge used to be attached to front, which dropped over a moat. That particular state-of-the-art defensive measure was filled in around the 17th century!